Patriots WR Troy Brown tells the Providence Journal that he is almost 100% recovered from his 1998 ankle injury and that he is looking forward to the 1999 season. With Terry Glenn and Shawn Jefferson looking like the starters, Brown will be competing with Vincent Brisby, Tony Simmons, Anthony Ladd and others for the #3, #4 and #5 WR slots on the team. "My goals are to be the best third-down receiver and punt returner in the NFL," he said. "Those are my roles here, and I intend to keep them." There has been talk of rookie Kevin Faulk taking on the punt returners role, but Brown says, "nobody said anything to me about that, so far as I'm concerned, the only way he can get the job is for the coaches to give it to him. Otherwise, it's mine."